Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing questions over the credibility of its voter register following allegations that suspected AI generated faces, repeated photographs and similar personal details appear on its online portal ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC published its preliminary register of voters on its website on Monday, October 26, 2026, following weeks of pressure after the physical display of voter records at registration areas nationwide from October 9 to 15.
The commission said the online publication was intended to widen public access to the register and build confidence in the electoral process.
The controversy emerged after Nigerians took to social media to raise concerns about photographs allegedly appearing across multiple voter profiles, alongside similar names and identification details, accusing the INEC chairman of pushing the country towards a crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The claims have prompted questions about how the records were created, how photographs were verified and whether the affected entries belong to genuine registered voters.
The physical display and online publication are intended to give registered voters an opportunity to inspect their details and report errors or suspicious entries.
The exercise was conducted under Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides for the display of the preliminary register and allows claims and objections to be submitted.
In a statement dated October 26, INEC said the online publication complemented the physical inspection exercise. The commission said it was processing claims and objections before certifying and publishing the final register, scheduled for December 15, 2026.
However, allegations of suspected AI generated photographs and repeated voter details have raised concerns about the checks used to identify inaccurate, duplicated or potentially fraudulent records.
One major question is whether the same photograph has been attached to different voter identities and, if so, how such duplication could have passed through the registration and verification process.
Similar names and identification details could result from data entry errors or database problems, but further checks would be needed to determine whether any reported cases involve more serious identity verification failures.
A separate account shared online described an alleged registration incident in which said that the system displayed another record containing the same names, date of birth, state and National Identification Number, but a different photograph, gender and local government area.
Many Nigerians alleged that registration officials treated the match as a coincidence and proceeded with the registration.
They later said that the disputed record appeared on the preliminary register while their own name could not be found.
The claims have added to questions about how INEC handles duplicate records and resolves discrepancies involving personal identification details.
Political economist Pat Utomi has also criticised the alleged appearance of AI generated images in the register, warning that the issue raises concerns about verification, transparency and accountability.
Utomi said the commission could not afford to be careless with the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
His comments have added to calls for INEC to explain the disputed images and demonstrate how its registration procedures identify and correct irregularities.
The controversy has also drawn attention to INEC’s plans to use artificial intelligence tools ahead of the 2027 elections to detect discrepancies in election results, strengthen cybersecurity and tackle disinformation.
The commission has said its planned use of AI would include human oversight.
However, those plans do not establish that the photographs currently being questioned were generated by artificial intelligence or that AI was used to create false voter records.
Establishing whether the images are artificial would require technical examination. Determining whether the records are genuine would also require checks against the commission’s registration database and relevant identification records.
INEC faces calls to clarify whether it has investigated the reported cases, whether duplicate photographs have been detected and what steps are being taken to correct any confirmed errors.
The commission is also being urged to explain how citizens can report suspicious entries and find out whether their complaints have been addressed.
As of October 27, 2026, the allegations about suspected AI generated photographs and duplicate records remained unresolved in the information available for this report. The claims have not been established as evidence of electoral fraud.
With the final voter register scheduled for publication on December 15, attention is likely to remain on how INEC handles complaints, corrects confirmed inaccuracies and verifies the identities of registered voters.
The accuracy of the register is central to confidence in the 2027 general elections. The commission’s handling of the allegations will be closely watched as Nigerians seek assurances that the final register reflects eligible voters and that reported irregularities are properly investigated.
